The unlikely history of a centuries old church located at the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities.

Founded in the early eighteenth century by a Greek Archbishop from Alexandria in Egypt, the church was aided by the nascent Russian Empire of Tsar Peter the Great and joined by Englishmen finding in it the Apostolic faith. It became a key centre of Orthodox Church life for Western Europe and America until the Bolshevik revolution and ultimately proved to be a haven for the many refugees of that calamity. In turn it became a spiritual home for those who escaped the upheavals following World War II or who sought economic opportunities in the West after the fall of communism in Russia. For much of this time the parish was a focal point for Anglican-Orthodox relations and Orthodox missionary endeavours from Japan to the Americas.

This is a history of the Orthodox Church in the West, of the Russian emigration to Europe, and of major world events through the prism of a particular local community. We become acquainted with the stories of an array of persons, from archbishops to members of Parliament and imperial diplomats to post-war refugees. Their lives and the constantly changing mosaic of global political and economic realities provide the background for the struggle to create and sustain the London church through time.

To read the introduction, browse the complete index, and view a selection of photographs from the book click here.

Foreword

Maps

Introduction

1. 1713–1725: The Delegation from Alexandria

The Archives

Metropolitan Arsenius and the Non-Jurors

Russian Support for the Church in London

2. 1725–1780: The Beginning of Orthodox Church Life in London

The Graeco-Russian Church at York Buildings

First Russian Clergy: Father Stephen Ivanovsky and the Move to Clifford Street

Stephen Hatherly and the Missionary Plans of Counts Alexander and Dimitry Tolstoy

Dr Joseph Overbeck and Plans for Western Rite Orthodoxy

Death of Father Eugene Popoff: Father Basil Popoff as Rector

6. 1877–1919: Archpriest Eugene Smirnoff

The Embassy Church and Its People

Contact with Orthodox in Other Countries

A ssistance to Orthodox Missions in the Americas, India, and Spain

Contact with Anglicans

World War I

7. 1919–1922: The Church in Exile

The Revolution and Civil War

The Formation of the Parish in London

The Beginning of Parish Life

The Evacuation of Southern Russia and the Beginning of the Church Abroad

The Arrival of Father John Lelioukhin

The Parish and the Church Hierarchy

St Philip’s Church

8. 1923–1927: St Philip’s Church

Parish Life: 1923–1925

The 1,600th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

A Definitive Statement on Anglican–Orthodox Relations

Archbishop Seraphim of Finland

The Schism in Western Europe

9. 1928–1932: Bishop Nicholas (Karpoff)

The Arrival of Archimandrite Nicholas

Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky): Impressions of Abbess Elisabeth

The Consecration of Bishop Nicholas

Parish Life Under the Leadership of Bishop Nicholas

Bishop Nicholas: A Spiritual Portrait

The Death and Testament of Bishop Nicholas

10. 1933–1938: Archpriest Boris Molchanoff

A New Rector Comes from France

Visits from Archbishop Seraphim of Western Europe

A Closer Acquaintanceship with Father Boris Through His Writings

Visit of Archbishop Nestor and Arrival of Father Nicholas Gibbes

Miraculously Renewed Icons of St Savva and St Nicholas

Departure of Father Boris Molchanoff

11. 1938–1948: Archpriest Michael Polsky

Recollections of Melvin Mansur

Father Michael’s Life in Russia

Father Michael in London

World War II

In Memory of Father Michael Polsky

12. 1945–1950: The Second Wave of Emigrants

The Great Betrayal

The Fischbeck Displaced Persons Camp

Soviet Interference in the Life of Russian Churches Outside Russia

13. 1948–1951: Archimandrite Vitaly (Oustinow)

Departure of Father Michael Polsky

Pastor of Displaced Persons

Recollections of Paul Uspensky

The Orthodox Review

Visit by Metropolitan Anastassy and the Miraculous Kursk Icon

Consecration as Bishop and Departure for Brazil

14. 1951–1959: Archbishop Nikodem: The Preston Diocese

Bishop Nathaniel of Preston and The Hague

A rchimandrite Nikodem: Life Before Coming to England

Development of the Parish and Diocese Under Archimandrite Nikodem

Russian London in the 1950s

I mpressions of a Visit to St Philip’s by Timothy Ware

A rrival of the Nuns from Palestine

A rchbishop John (Maximovitch) in England

Consecration of Archimandrite Nikodem as Bishop of Preston

Wanderings in the Wilderness

15. 1959–1976: Archbishop Nikodem: Emperor’s Gate

Opening of the New Church at Emperor’s Gate

Development of Parish Life at Emperor’s Gate

Establishment of the Convent of the Annunciation in Willesden

Ecumenism and Mission

Archbishop Nikon’s Visit to England

Galina von Meck

Gerald Palmer

Father George Cheremetieff as Convent Priest

The Last Years of Archbishop Nikodem

16. 1976–1989: The Last Years at Emperor’s Gate

Archimandrite Alexis as Diocesan Administrator

Bishop Constantine

The Russian Dissident Movement

Bishop Mark of Berlin, Germany, and Great Britain

Leaving Emperor’s Gate

17. 1990–2009: Building the New Cathedral at Harvard Road

Moving to Harvard Road

Architectural Design and Fund-Raising

Building the New Church

Convent of the Annunciation: Repose of Abbesses Elisabeth and Seraphima

Water Damage and Interior Finishing of the Lower Church

Reconciliation with the Moscow Patriarchate

Finishing the Upper Church: Installing the New Iconostasis

Appendix 1 Guidance from Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow Regarding English Converts to Orthodoxy

Appendix 2 Individuals Glorified as Saints

Appendix 3 List of Bishops and Priests of the London Russian Orthodox Church

Appendix 4 Ecclesiastical Ranks in the Orthodox Church

Notes

Sources

Acknowledgement

Index

...a long anticipated treatise which fills a large gap in historical and ecclesiastical studies concerning the Orthodox presence and activity in the West...both ecclesiastical and secular historians will be grateful ... for this extensive presentation.

+MarkArchbishop of Berlin, Germany and Great BritainRussian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

...the definitive history of Russian Orthodox presence in London…Birchall’s approach of structuring the book around the key figures of Russian religious life in London makes the book much more personal and engaging than it could have otherwise been. One could call it an iconic approach to history...Every parish should be so lucky to have such an outstanding chronicle of its memorable figures, transformations, struggles, and triumphs.

...well-researched, eminently readable and authoritative...Father Christopher’s book is a model of how such histories should be written and it is not only to be hoped that he will turn his attention to other areas of British Orthodox history but will encourage others to emulate his meticulous and scholarly work.

Christopher Birchall, an Englishman living in Vancouver, is a deacon in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was educated at The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, London, received a Bachelors of Theology from the State University of New York, and earned an M.A. in Russian Language & Literature from Norwich University in Vermont. He has previously publications include two translations from Russian: one on St Maximus the Confessor and one on confession in the Orthodox Church.